Couple: We Smuggled Cocaine On Cruise Ship

A husband and wife from New Smyrna Beach pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Orlando to charges relating to smuggling cocaine aboard a Port Canaveral cruise ship.

Three others who were charged in the case are expected to plead guilty next week, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Hawkins.

''I do have a viable problem with cocaine that I picked up in Vietnam,'' Roger Tacy told U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp.

The 47-year-old Navy veteran said his wife begged him to stop using cocaine. He pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to distribute more than a pound of powdered cocaine and about two ounces of crack.

Sharp asked Tacy if he realized that by pleading guilty he could receive up to life in prison. Tacy delayed his answer and appeared to waver when Sharp told him that he would be getting no less than a 10-year sentence.

''The court will not depart from the minimum,'' Sharp said. ''Before you make this plea I want you to understand that.''

After a moment, Tacy said he was guilty.

Next, Tacy's wife faced Sharp. Juanita Tacy, 45, fought back tears as she entered a plea of guilty on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. The charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Authorities said she helped coach others in the ring on how to evade detection by U.S. Customs officials while smuggling cocaine.

According to an affidavit by a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Tacy told a confidential informant on Sept. 14 that he returned from Nassau, Bahamas, on the SS Atlantic with 6.6 pounds of cocaine, some of it crack. The cruise ship is owned by Premier Cruise Lines.

Tacy said he became nervous and stashed the cocaine on board before coming ashore, the affidavit said. The cocaine was later found and turned in to Customs officials.

The affidavit by DEA agent Stephen Collins detailed one other cocaine delivery on the cruise ship that was set up by Tacy.

Others charged in the indictment are Charles Andrew McKenzie, 26, of the Bahamas; Tonya Lynette Hawkins, 26 of Detroit; Janelle Harris, 22 of Detroit; and Tyrone Todd of Detroit.

Prosecutor Hawkins said McKenzie, Hawkins and Harris are expected to enter pleas next week. Todd was still in Detroit awaiting transfer to Orlando, she said.